Single Pole Tipi Having Bow Pole

ABSTRACT

A single pole tipi can be configured to employ a bow pole. The bow pole can serve to increase the internal space within the tipi. The bow pole can also serve to increase the tension in the tent material thereby increasing the strength of the tipi.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/861,882 which was filed on Aug. 2, 2013.

BACKGROUND

FIGS. 1A and 1B each depict a typical single pole tipi 100. As shown, a single pole tipi employs a single center pole 101 to support the tent material 102. A single pole tipi 100 is constructed by securing the base of the tent material 102 to the ground and then raising the center of the tent material 102 vertically using the center pole 101. Guy lines 103 are then attached to the tent material 102 and pulled taut to further secure the tipi 100 in an upright position.

Guy lines 103 can also be used to pull the tent material 102 outward to increase the space within the tipi 100. However, because the guy lines are attached to the ground, they cannot pull the tent material significantly outward unless the guy lines are pulled a long distance from the tipi such as is shown in FIG. 1B. Also, guy lines only provide additional space in a small area around the location where the guy line connects to the tent material. Further, when guy lines are used, it becomes difficult to walk around the tipi.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention extends to a single pole tipi that employs a bow pole. The bow pole can serve to increase the internal space within the tipi. The bow pole can also serve to increase the tension in the tent material thereby increasing the strength of the tipi.

In some embodiments, a single pole tipi comprises tent material, a center pole for supporting the tent material to form a tipi, and a bow pole for extending a sidewall of the tent material outwardly and/or upwardly.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate examples of prior art single pole tipis;

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of single pole tipi that employs a bow pole in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2B illustrates a rear view of the single pole tipi of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the single pole tipi of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D illustrates a top view of the single pole tipi of FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the single pole tipi of FIG. 2A where the tent material is modified to position the bow pole at a higher angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention extends to a single pole tipi that employs a bow pole. The bow pole can serve to increase the internal space within the tipi. The bow pole can also serve to increase the tension in the tent material thereby increasing the strength of the tipi.

In some embodiments, a single pole tipi comprises tent material, a center pole for supporting the tent material to form a tipi, and a bow pole for extending a sidewall of the tent material outwardly and/or upwardly.

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate various views of a single pole tipi 200 that employs a bow pole 203 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. Tipi 200 includes a center pole 201, tent material 202, and bow pole 203. FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a side view, a rear view, a cross-sectional side view, and a top view respectively of tipi 200. Single pole tipi 200 can have a conical shape with any height and diameter. Also, a single pole tipi of other shapes can also employ a bow pole. For example, a single pole tipi having a generally conical shape and an extension can employ a bow pole.

Tent material 202 can include a sleeve extending around the perimeter of the tent material into which bow pole 203 is inserted. The sleeve can be configured so that bow pole 203 is oriented at an angle between 35 and 55 degrees from the ground. In other embodiments, hooks or other means may be used to secure bow pole 203 to tent material 202.

As shown in FIG. 2A, bow pole 203 can extend around a portion of tipi 200. The length of bow pole 203 and the angle at which bow pole 203 is positioned within tent material 202 can be configured to ensure that the sidewall of tipi 200 is extended outwardly at the appropriate height. In some embodiments, bow pole 203 can be positioned at a 45 degree angle to maximize the tension of tent material 202.

In some embodiments, tent material 202 and bow pole 203 can be configured so that both ends of bow pole 203 are located within the same vertical plane through the center of tipi 200. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2D, the ends of bow pole 203 are positioned so that a line drawn through both ends will intersect center pole 201. In other embodiments, the ends of bow pole 203 can be configured to be positioned to the left or the right of what is shown in FIG. 2D.

When employing bow pole 203, the shape of tent material 202 need not be modified from a standard conical shape used in traditional single pole tipis. In other words, tent material 202 can have a generally conical shape when bow pole 203 is not used. In this manner, when bow pole 203 is used, tent material 202 will be stretched outwardly to increase the tension of the tent material.

By increasing the tension in tent material 202, bow pole 203 strengthens tipi 200. For example, with standard single pole tipis, the tent material is prone to fluttering in the wind because no reinforcing structure is present in the walls of the tipi. Even when guy lines are used to secure the tipi is place, the amount of fluttering can be significant. Bow pole 203 reinforces the sidewall of tipi 200 thereby preventing fluttering from high winds.

FIG. 2C illustrates the additional space that is provided when bow pole 203 is used. The dashed line in FIG. 2C represents the normal position of tent material 202 when bow pole 203 is not used. As can be seen, bow pole 203 provides continuous additional space within tipi 200. Unlike guy lines which only provide additional space in the small area around the connection point of the guy line, bow pole 203 extends the entire length of tent material 202 outwardly and/or upwardly to maximize the amount of space within tipi 200.

In some embodiments, the angle and length of bow pole 203 can be selected based on the overall dimensions of tipi 200. For example, if the tipis diameter is shorter, it may be desirable to place bow pole 203 at a higher angle so that the apex of bow pole 203 is sufficiently high to enable an average height person to stand near the apex of the bow pole 203. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment where tent material 202 is configured to position bow pole 203 at a higher angle (approximately 55 degrees with respect to the ground) so that the apex 301 is near or above the height of an average person. In other embodiments, rather than adjusting the angle of bow pole 203, a bow pole 203 of a different length can be used to ensure that the apex is at the appropriate height.

As is depicted in the Figures, by using bow pole 203, no guy lines may be required. In other words, bow pole 203 can increase the tension of tent material 202 sufficiently so that guy lines are not required. However, in some embodiments, guy lines can be used in conjunction with bow pole 203 if desired.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed:
 1. A single pole tipi comprising: tent material; a center pole for supporting the tent material to form a tipi; and a bow pole for extending a sidewall of the tent material outwardly or upwardly.
 2. The single pole tipi of claim 1, wherein the tent material has a conical shape.
 3. The single pole tipi of claim 1, wherein the tent material includes a sleeve into which the bow pole is inserted.
 4. The single pole tipi of claim 3, wherein the sleeve is positioned within the tent material so that the bow pole is angled between 35 and 55 degrees from the ground when inserted into the sleeve.
 5. The single pole tipi of claim 4, wherein the bow pole is angled 45 degrees from the ground.
 6. The single pole tipi of claim 1, wherein the tent material has a shape other than a conical shape.
 7. A single pole tipi comprising: tent material; a center pole for supporting the tent material to form a tipi, wherein when the center pole supports the tent material, a sidewall of the tent material is a first distance above the ground; and a bow pole for extending the sidewall of the tent material so that the sidewall is a second distance above the ground, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
 8. The single pole tipi of claim 7, wherein the tent material has a conical shape.
 9. The single pole tipi of claim 7, wherein the tent material includes a sleeve into which the bow pole is inserted.
 10. The single pole tipi of claim 9, wherein the sleeve is positioned within the tent material so that the bow pole is angled between 35 and 55 degrees from the ground when inserted into the sleeve.
 11. The single pole tipi of claim 10, wherein the bow pole is angled 45 degrees from the ground.
 12. The single pole tipi of claim 7, wherein the tent material has a shape other than a conical shape.
 13. The single pole tipi of claim 7, wherein the bow pole also extends the tent material away from the center pole.
 14. A single pole tipi comprising: tent material; a center pole for supporting the tent material to form a tipi, wherein when the center pole supports the tent material, a sidewall of the tent material is a first distance from the center pole; and a bow pole for extending the sidewall of the tent material so that the sidewall is a second distance from the center pole, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
 15. The single pole tipi of claim 14, wherein the tent material has a conical shape.
 16. The single pole tipi of claim 14, wherein the tent material includes a sleeve into which the bow pole is inserted.
 17. The single pole tipi of claim 16, wherein the sleeve is positioned within the tent material so that the bow pole is angled between 35 and 55 degrees from the ground when inserted into the sleeve.
 18. The single pole tipi of claim 17, wherein the bow pole is angled 45 degrees from the ground.
 19. The single pole tipi of claim 14, wherein the tent material has a shape other than a conical shape.
 20. The single pole tipi of claim 14, wherein the bole pole also lifts the tent material upward. 